Air21 Express made its first nine shots in the game and coach Franz Pumaren had a strange feeling that his team will finally break its 14-game losing streak.

The Air21 Express held on to beat Barako Bull, 97-88, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

New recruits Nelbert Omolon, Mark Isip, and Marcus Douthit carried the Express, who lost all 14 of its games in the Philippine Cup playing as the Shopinas.com Clickers.

Omolon and Isip were acquired from the Meralco Bolts before the start of the Commissioner’s Cup, while Douthit, a naturalized Filipino who played for the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national squad, was signed up to reinforce the team.

Omolon led the way for the Air21 Express with 17 points while also taking the heavy task of guarding Barako Bull import DerMarr Johnson.

“The moment he stepped into the practice facilities, the confidence level of the players were lifted to several levels,” said Air21 Express coach Franz Pumaren of Douthit.

“Marcus, and the two new players, Bitoy and Mark isip, gave our team a big boost. Compared to our team last conference, our present team is a big improvement.”

With the Air21 Express making their 11 of their first 12 shots, the team posted an early 31-8 advantage that set the tone for the rout. They built their biggest lead of the game in the second period, 51-25, to take the energy out of Barako Bull.

The Air21 Express shot 45.2% from the field (33-of-73) while holding down the Energy below 40% shooting from the field (31-of-78). Air 21 also played better as a team, dishing out nine more assists than Barako Bull, 18 to nine.

Johnson tried to keep Barako in the game, finishing with 37 points to leaad all scorers.

Douthit today begins the task of trying to steer the Express to a first-ever season victory, wishing that his familiarity with how things are done in the PBA would wind up as a huge factor as Air21 makes its debut in the Commissioner’s Cup against Barako Bull Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

“We’re hoping that Marcus can adjust right away with our locals,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.

The 6-foot-11 naturalized player who backstopped Smart-Gilas’ campaign in the FIBA-Asia wars last
year arrived only Thursday morning after a 29-game stint in China, and his mission now is to lead
the Express to a victory the franchise never tasted in the Philippine Cup, when it was still known
as Shopinas.com.

Air21 went winless in the 14-game elimination round of the season-opening conference. The Express
were the first to be booted out for the playoffs, and their losing streak ended up as a PBA all-time
worst.

Douthit hopes he could carry Air21’s fortunes around. He’s definitely in game shape, having
played for team Foshan in China where he averaged in double-double of 19.8 points and 10.7 rebounds.

Air21 is expected to be more competitive this conference. For its first-round pick in the 2012-13
season, it acquired Mark Isip and Nelbert Omolon from Meralco, adding a man who can play the post
and someone who could deliver from the long court.

The Express will confront a team that is coming off a bitter defeat.

The Energy dropped an 88-86 decision to league-leading B-Meg last Feb. 15, failing to send the game
into overtime after two-time MVP Willie Miller missed on a point-blank bank shot.

Air21 is the only team that has yet to see action, and Barako Bull is expected to pounce on a team
that’s perceived to be lacking in chemistry.

Man-for-man, it looks like the Express do not stand a chance. But the gap in age between the two
teams could be a critical factor as Air21 is expected to use its youth to wear down the Energy’s
energy.

Barako Bull actually kicked off its campaign in the tournament in resounding fashion, a 98-78
triumph over the Alaska Aces in a game where Miller scored 25 points.

But Miller wasn’t as hot when Barako Bull took on B-Meg. The two-time MVP only finished with nine
points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field.

Douthit will be pitted against DerMarr Johnson, the NBA veteran who was picked sixth overall in the
first round by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA in 2000. (ZM)

B-Meg Llamados turned to its locals when import Denzel Bowls got into foul trouble early as the Llamados overcame an 11-point deficit to nip the Barako Bull Energy, 88-86, for their second straight victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome last night.

Joe Devance, James Yap and Marc Pingris delivered as the Llamados fought back from 11 points down at the half and scored a follow-up to their big debut against the Meralco Bolts last Friday.

Devance led all scorers with 26 points, Yap added 14 markers and Pingris contributed nine points, all in the second half, including two jams that helped fuelB-Meg’s third-quarter siege.

Pingris also grabbed five rebounds, two off the offensive board making him the 42nd PBA player to collect a career total of 1,000 offensive caroms.

Defensively, the B-Meg Llamados shackled Dermarr Johnson, limiting him to two in the second half after the Barako import exploded for 19 in the first 24 minutes of play.

The B-Meg Llamados also held the whole Barako team to a single field-goal basket in the last four minutes as the Energy fell to 1-1 after thumping the Alaska Aces, also last Friday.

Willie Miller had a chance to send the gameinto overtime but missed a shot after faking off three defenders in the dying seconds.

“We played bad in the first half. We’re playing hard but we’re not playing smart. But I have to give it to the guys, they hung in there,” said B-Meg Llamados coach Tim Cone.

“It’s a big win. The tournament is a sprint and you have to get as many wins as you can. Our next opponents are Petron and Talk n Text. Imagine the pressure if we split our first two games,” Cone said.

Bowles wasn’t much of help last night as he picked up three fouls right in the first quarter, a fourth just two minutes into the second period and his fifth with 3:42 left in the third quarter.

“That’s something Denzel has to learn. There are fouls that you don’t have to give up. He has to stay on the floor,” said Cone.

The Energy pounced on the Llamados with Bowles on the bench in the second quarter, working on a 15-5 run to open a 12-point spread at 48-36.

But behind Devance, Pingris and Yap, the B-meg Llamados got back into the game in the third and hung tough till the end.

Devance and Bowles scored three unanswered baskets as the B-Meg Llamados moved ahead to stay at 87-83 with 2:01 left to play.

Bowles was limited to 29 minutes, churning out 19 points and 13 rebounds. Johnson, on the other hand, logged 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and the same number of steals and blocks.

Miller Time came early in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup for the Barako Bull Energy.

Miller “took under his wings” import DerMarr Johnson who debuted for Barako Bull without much fanfare Friday night, putting up numbers that didn’t bring back memories of great reinforcements before him but impacted enough in the eyes of head coach Junel Baculi.

“He is what we need, a No. 3 (shooting forward), something we lacked last conference,” Baculi said.

Drafted sixth overall in 2000 by the former Atlanta Hawks, Johnson shot 1 for 9 from 3-point range and just had eight rebounds but the figures hardly mattered as Miller unloaded 25 points and the Energy zapped the Alaska Aces, 98-78, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The two-time MVP went 2 for 3 from beyond the arc, had six rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes.

“Willie stepped up,” Baculi confirmed. “We have a good import, but he can only be good if our locals deliver, and tonight they did, including Ronald Tubid.”

Tubid played his first game after getting traded by Barangay Ginebra and added 10 points.

“He contributed a lot with his energy,” said Baculi of Tubid, adding in jest. “Maybe because he’s now drinking Barako Bull.”

The Aces put up forgettable numbers: 1 of 12 from 3-point territory, 31 of 84 from the field overall, 15 of 22 from the line, and 22 turnover points yielded through 19 errors.

They were beaten in the perimeter, 56-17, and gave up 70 points on Barako Bull jump shots, 24 of
them open looks.

Baculi didn’t take any credit though.

“It’s too early. Maybe Alaska just played bad. We didn’t play good either,” he said.

Barako takes on B-Meg next this Wednesday.

“We’ll see when in our next game. They have a tough import.”

Asked how many games he requires for Johnson to prove his worth further, Baculi said, “As long as we’re winning, we’ll be contented with him.”

Johnson had 12 points in the first half and Miller 10 as Barako took a 39-34 lead, the opening two quarters marked by five deadlocks and 12 lead changes but little dramatic action.

Neither team shot well from the perimeter, and the Aces were hurt even more by their woeful 1 of 7
from 3-point range, with Cyrus Baguio going 1 of 3 and LA Tenorio 0 for 2.

Desperate to shed off misfortunes of the recent past, the Aces abandoned their standard triangle offense – the Phil Jackson system adopted by Tim Cone to establish a minor Alaska dynasty with 13 championships – for a more free-wheeling approach.

But the Aces groped for familiarity with their return to a more conventional offense, and the defensive effort of import Adam Parada, who suited up for Red Bull years ago, failed to inspire his local teammates.

A third quarter Barako Bull explosion settled the outcome as the Energy, with Miller going 6 for 6 from the floor, shot 13 of 23 while forcing the Aces to miss 17 of 23.

After three quarters, Parada had 14 points and Baguio 11. But Mac Baracael shot 1 for 6, LA Tenorio 1 for 7, Jay-R Reyes 1 for 7, and Sonny Thoss 3 for 11, and the Aces fell behind by as many 26 in the fourth period.

Both teams wrapped up the first conference Philippine Cup by losing their last four games, with Alaska winding up with a 3-11 card and finishing ninth to miss the playoffs. (TT)

The triangle was enforced by Cone since taking over the Uytengsu franchise in 1989. Following
Alaska’s dismal ninth place-finish in Banal’s first conference at the helm in the Philippine Cup,
the team collectively decided to abandon that and go for a more run-and-gun kind of play.

“Mas takbuhan ang laro namin, mas free-wheeling,” said Tenorio.

Alaska starts finding out whether the switch would be effective Friday when the Alaska Aces clash with the
similarly refurbished Barako Bull Energy at the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum.

The new Alaska Aces system should come in handy as its coincides with the sprint-like tournament format,
which calls for only the top six teams advancing to the playoffs following the single round
eliminations.

In anticipation, Barako also did its own tinkering, but more on the manpower side.

The Energy acquired Ronald Tubid, Chico Lanete, Jimbo Aquino and Reil Cervantes from trades and
hired NBA veteran DerMarr Johnson, who impressed Tenorio no end in their recent tuneup game.

The presence of Johnson and his new local acquisitions give Energy coach Junel Baculi reason to be
optimistic his team can bounce back from a seventh place-windup in the Philippine Cup.

“We are ready,” said Baculi. “We plugged the holes that we had last conference. DJ Johnson is a good
import. He can help us a lot in getting W’s (wins).”

Alaska enlisted Nino Gelig and has a balik-import in Mexican seven-footer Adam Parada, who saw
action for Red Bull in the 2008 Fiesta, when he met his current Filipina wife.

The Alaska Aces, however, would have to do without team captain Tony dela Cruz and Brandon Cablay, who
recently underwent back surgeries. Wesley Gonzales is also not yet fully recovered from the torn
medial collateral ligament he suffered two conferences ago and rookie Ariel Mepana continues to be
likewise out.

Tenorio would rather look at the hope the mid-season conference brings.

It’s not often that an NBA first round pick comes over to play in the PBA. Since the league opened shop in 1975, over 600 imports have invaded the country and only 40 were NBA first round choices.

But in the Commissioner’s Cup starting Feb. 10, DerMarr Johnson will suit up for Barako Bull to become the 41st NBA first round pick to play in the PBA. Johnson, 31, was the Atlanta Hawks first round selection and sixth overall in the 2000 NBA draft from the University of Cincinnati. The 6-8 forward played for Atlanta, New York, Denver and San Antonio in seven NBA seasons until 2007-08, averaging 6.2 points in 344 total games.

In his NBA career, Johnson earned about $9.3 Million with a high of $2.4 Million on his third year with Atlanta and a low of $42,000 on his last season with the Spurs.

The last NBA first round pick to play in the PBA was Dickey Simpsons who saw action for Alaska in 2004-05. Sherell Ford, Kenny Payne, John Morton, Mario Bennett, Chris Morris, Johnny Taylor, Rodrick Rhodes, Scott Burrell, Cedric Ceballos and Simpkins were the last 10 NBA first round choices to sign PBA contracts.

Johnson will be the shortest import in the Commissioner’s Cup but Barako coach Junel Baculi isn’t worried. “He’s still feeling his way,” said Baculi. “He’s 6-8 legit. We’ve got players who can defend seven-footers like (Dorian) Pena, Mick (Pennisi) and Don (Allado) so we’ll see how we do with DerMarr. We think he’s the import we need. Hopefully, that translates into wins.” Barako PBA governor Manny Alvarez said Johnson has been outstanding in tune-ups so no complaints from management.

Yesterday, Barako trounced Alaska, 91-82, in a practice game at the Reyes Gym as Johnson scattered 39 points.

Johnson played only a year for the Cincinnati varsity before jumping to the pros. Cincinnati was where former PBA imports Art Long and Pete Mickeal played and also produced baseball star Sandy Koufax and NBA legend Oscar Robertson. At the height of his NBA career, Johnson figured in a major car accident in 2002. He fell asleep behind the wheel, crashed his Mercedes-Benz S600 into a tree and broke his neck. Johnson and his two friends in the car managed to get out of the vehicle before it blew up in a ball of fire. Johnson didn’t only escape death but also paralysis. Miraculously, he returned to the NBA with the New York Knicks in the 2003-04 season.

Johnson said he wasn’t bothered by the four screws that held his neck in place during his recovery. Within months from the accident, he was back on the court shooting jumpers. “I didn’t see what the big deal was,” said Johnson, quoted by writer Mark Grey. “I felt like it was just a bone like any other bone and it would heal. I missed the game so bad, I couldn’t take it anymore. I was shooting lay-ups in my halo (in his head). I’m sure I shouldn’t have but I couldn’t stay away any longer.”

From the NBA, Johnson took on playing jobs in Italy, Puerto Rico, China, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Colombia. Before moving to Barako, Johnson led the Bucaros de Bucaramanga team to the Copa Federacion title in Colombia, clinching the crown in a seven-game finals.

A scorching shooter, Johnson learned the game playing as a guard. With a seven-foot wingspan, he used his length to advantage on defense and his quickness to disengage from any type of coverage.

Grey said two years ago, Johnson felt he was better than ever. “I may not be able to take off from the free throw line like I used to but I’m a much better player than I’ve ever been,” said Johnson. “I can still shoot and I’m a much smarter player.” Grey said it’s remarkable how Johnson is able to drain triples from five and six feet behind the arc with ease.

Barako posted a 6-8 record in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations and was booted out of contention by Talk ‘N’ Text via an 81-79 decision in the wildcard knockout phase with a twice-to-win disadvantage. Baculi is confident that with Johnson in harness, Barako will be a serious title contender. Back in the Barako fold are Pena, Pennisi, Allado, Willie Miller, Danny Seigle, Wynne Arboleda, Sunday Salvacion, Leo Najorda, Jimbo Aquino, Lou Gatumbato, Jondan Salvador, Paul Sorongon and Dylan Ababou. Chico Lanete joined the team in a trade with Paul Artadi the other day.